Posts Tagged ‘what is yoga’

Yoga is a type of meditation that contains mental and physical exercises designed to help you gain a sense of relaxation and well being. It is estimated that the practice has been around in India for about 5000 years. It is thought that the creation of yoga was inspired by watching animals stretching and noting their increased energy and alertness.

The word yoga means “union” in Sanskrit, from the word “yoke”. Yoga helps increase total self awareness by uniting the mind, body, emotions, and spirit. Yogis view the mind and the body as one, and believe that if it is given the right tools, it can find harmony and heal itself.

Hatha yoga, the most popular form of yoga in the west, teaches techniques of physical control through postures known as asanas, and breathing techniques known as pranayama. The postures in asanas help the body to be more supple, whereas the breathing exercise in pranayama help increase the body’s energy.

Regular practice of asanas and pranayama will help you have a more balanced mindset. You will be less prone to mood swings, and have a more positive outlook on life.

Yoga can also help you become more aware of your body’s posture, alignment and patterns of movement. It makes the body more flexible and helps you to relax even when in stressful situations.

Yoga is not a contest. Instead yoga favors quiet, consistent application over superficial accomplishments. Yoga begins by accepting our limitations, and working with this as a base to improve upon.

Try this really simple yoga technique right now…

Stand up and take a long slow deep breath and hold it in. Now stand on your tip toes and make yourself as tall as you can, with your hands reaching as high as you can, with your fingers stretched wide apart. Hold this pose for a few seconds…Now breath out slowly as you return to a normal standing position. Repeat this again. Stand on your tip toes and make yourself as tall as you can, with your hands reaching as high as you can, and your fingers stretched wide apart. Hold this pose for a few seconds…Now breath out slowly as you return to a normal standing position. You can repeat this as many times as you wish.

You should notice that you immediately feel happier, more energized yet also more relaxed even after just a few repetitions. Congratulations, you have just experienced the benefits of yoga!

If you decide to continue practicing yoga, you can enjoy the benefits of feeling fitter, more energetic, happier and more at peace at all times in your life – not just when practicing yoga.